Cavs rout Burns

Garrett Byers/Daily Courier
East Rutherford head coach Brad Levine draws out a play during a time out.

FOREST CITY —

The East Rutherford Cavaliers scored 36 points in the first quarter and never looked back as they routed the Burns Bulldogs 82-44 Monday in the first round of the SMAC tournament.

With the win, East (19-5) moves on to face Freedom in the tournament semifinals in Shelby Wednesday night.

“We really shot the ball well in the first quarter,” said East coach Brad Levine. “I think we only missed four shots and got put backs on those. We really shared the ball tonight and that’s what East basketball is all about. We could have scored 100 points tonight too, but I have too much respect for the kids on the other sideline to do that.”

Travis Waldroup–Rodriquez scored his team’s first seven points and DeVonte Boykins drilled a 3-pointer as East raced to a 10-4 lead. That start was indicative of things to come as the home team was sizzling from the field in the opening quarter.

Boykins canned another shot from beyond the arc and Jarvis Hopper followed suit with one of his own.

The most exciting play of the quarter came when T.J Watkins heaved a shot from three-quarter court that banked off the backboard and fell through the net. As a result East led 36-11 at the end of the first quarter.

The onslaught continued in the second quarter as Burns just had no answer for the East offense.

A majority of the offense came off dribble penetration and kick outs for open shots from beyond the arc. When a shot was missed, a Cavalier was there for the offense rebound and putback.

On the defense end, East stayed in an active zone that limited the Bulldogs to eight points in the quarter. That effort accounted for the halftime tally of 59-19.

The scoring pace slowed considerable in the third quarter as East worked on set plays.

Boykins converted an old fashioned three-point play of an inbounds under the basket. Waldroup- Rodriquez was the beneficiary of a pair of set plays as he came of a screen and knocked in two foul line jumpers. Rodrick Ross then began to drive to the rim and by the time he converted a three point play at the end of the quarter, East led 74-26.

The final frame belonged to the East bench as young players saw extended action. Burns won the quarter 18-8, but Sharkari Jackson and Benjamin Beckett showed off their leaping ability with offensive rebounds and stick backs.

Maquel Faulk also garnered a basket as did Darius Beckett to account for the 82-44 final.

Boykins led a balanced East attack with 19 points as the Cavs placed four players in double figures on the night.

East will play Patton Wednesday night at Shelby. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.